Everyone who has anything to do with ornithology is well aware that the California Condor is not only the world's largest bird, but also one of the rarest. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, today he is on the verge of almost complete extinction. After reading this article, you will learn how they look and where the representatives of this species live.
Biology and lifestyle
The condor, a photo of which is presented in this publication, is capable of speeds up to 90 km / h. To facilitate flight, he uses air currents. In search of food, these birds usually go at dawn. In the case of a successful hunt, they spend the rest of the day in a state of calm wakefulness.
California condor is considered a long-liver. His average life expectancy is about sixty years. In this case, individuals who have reached the age of six are sexually mature. For nesting, these strong monogamous birds choose solitary caves or high rocky ledges. The female lays only one very large white egg. The hatching process continues for a month and a half.
How does young growth grow?
The hatched chick develops rather slowly. That is why he spends the next six months of his life with his parents. The three-month-old condor, whose photo cannot accurately convey all the beauty and power of these birds, leaves the nest from time to time to make its first flights. Parents teach him everything that can be useful in an adult independent life.
What does a California condor eat?
The bird eats exclusively carrion, which is in various stages of decomposition. Hovering high in the sky, she looks out for herself a suitable prey, which mainly consists of the bodies of large ungulates. Despite the fact that condors mainly inhabit mountainous landscapes, they can feed on flat terrain.
In all that is related to food intake, these birds have a strict hierarchy. Young individuals start a meal only after dominant and older condors. Satisfied, they fly away for a rather long rest, for which they choose the predominant secluded quiet place.
California Condor: Description
These are powerful and majestic birds, whose wingspan is 3.4 meters. The average weight of an adult is from seven to fourteen kilograms. Outwardly, the female is very similar to the male, the only distinguishing feature by which gender can be recognized is the size of the bird.
The California condor, whose long body is covered with black plumage, has a bare neck surrounded by a beautiful feather collar. Under the wings of a bird is a white triangle. On the bald pink head is a short, strong and curved beak, which is ideally suited for butchering fresh, not yet decayed carrion.
Young birds can be recognized by brownish-plumage with a light border. Their back is covered with a scaly pattern, and white color is absent on the secondary wing wings. Most interestingly, the final change in appearance occurs only at the age of four.
